Friday, October 06, 2017

6th October,2017 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

First Global Sustainable Rice Conference held in Bangkok

VNA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 04, 2017 - 20:04:00 
Description: https://imgen.vietnamplus.vn/t660/Uploaded/wbxx/2017_10_04/rice_field.jpgA rice field in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is holding the 2017 Sustainable Rice Conference and Exhibition on October 4-5 at the United Nations Convention Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

Attending the event are both members and non-members from the public and private sectors, as well as value chain players, research institutions, international organisations, producers and civil society groups.

Site visits and social functions are providing participants with additional opportunities to network and learn from their peers.

Kundhavi Kadiresan, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations gave the keynote address at the opening session.

She said rice markets are growing not only in countries that normally consume rice but also in some that never bought rice before. Rice sustainability cannot be guaranteed by policy makers alone, it needs support from the public and private sectors to help in creating the “Save and Grow” rice markets for everyone.

The SRP is a multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes resource efficiency and sustainability both on-farm and throughout the rice value adding chain. It was co-convened by the UN Environment and the International Rice Research Institute in December 2011, and works in collaboration with partners in the public and private sectors as well as the NGO community.-VNA

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/first-global-sustainable-rice-conference-held-in-bangkok/118991.vnp

Rice price: State vows to act against middlemen

TNN | Oct 6, 2017, 06:59 IST
KOLKATA: The Bengal government has promised a crackdown on unscrupulous middlemen who are jacking up price of rice by spreading rumours of its shortage due to bulk export to Bangladesh. Agri-marketing department minister Tapan Dasgupta said that he has already asked his officers to assess the ground situation.
"I will hold a meeting on the basis of the feedback and take appropriate measures," he said. Dasgupta said that a section of middlemen plays havoc with the price of edible commodities in connivance with some rice mill owners."Though there is no shortage of rice in our stock, rumours are being spread and prices artificially jacked up. But we won't tolerate this. If needed, I will personally vi sit rice mills and check wholesale and retail markets after Laxmi Puja," he added.


The rice trading sources said that after Bangladesh lowered import duty from 28% to 2%, there has been quite a significant export of rice to the neighbouring country this season. But that, according to them, should not hit the rice stock of Bengal. But a section of traders managed to jack up the price by spreading rumours."This season, several agri products were lost due to floods. We are hoping that the price would again normalise after the Puja," said Abani Seal, president of Burdwan Rice Traders Association.
West Bengal produced 16.2 million tonnes of rice in 2016, higher by 2.5% compared to 2015. The Food Corporation of India, the central agency, has so far procured 1.2 lakh tonnes of paddy for the marketing season 201617. West Bengal's food and supplies department also plans to procure 52 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers at Rs 20 more than the central purchase price of Rs 1,470 per quintal.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/rice-price-state-vows-to-act-against-middlemen/articleshow/60964675.cms

 

Nta News SummaryFG Assured Nigerians of More Affordable Rice price

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Nta News Summary: 5th October, 2017
The federal government is assuring Nigerians that in the next few weeks, the price of rice, the most consumed commodity in the country will become reasonably affordable for the nation’s majority. the minister of agriculture and rural development Audu Ogbeh announced this while briefing newsmen after the meeting of the federal executive council presided over by president Muhammadu Buhari. state house correspondent Adamu Sambo reports that verified debt owed electricity distribution companies are also to be settled as part of the power sector recovery programme.

Policy Dialogue on Anambra Election
The conduct of the november 18 anambra governorship election is being viewed as a dress rehearsal for the independent national electoral commission in its efforts to anticipate and deal with emerging issues in the electoral process. this will serve as a build up to preparations for the 2019 general elections for which dates have been fixed.
 Senate President Paid Tribute To Late Kanti Bello
Senate President at today’s plenary paid tribute to a two term senator Mahmud Kanti Bello whose demise occurred during the annual recess. National assembly correspondent dennis adegunloye reports that the late lawmaker was described as vibrant and dedicated two other motions were adopted including a resolution to set up an adhoc committee to investigate nnpc trading company for alleged corrupt practices and the urgent need to investigate the recent importation of maize. 13 bills were also up for second reading

House Of Reps Considering Assets Management Bill
The house of representative is considering a bill that seeks to establish the Nigerian assets management agency which will manage all government assets including seized ones.The bill has been passed for second reading.
 National Assembly Urged Aviation Minister Of Transparency
The National Assembly joint committee on aviation has urged the minister of aviation to ensure transparency in all transaction leading to concession of some of the nation’s airports. National assembly correspondent Rabi Musa said members of committee, engaged the aviation minister on the issue of time frame, advisers contracted, in the involvement of bureau for public enterprises, legal matters and revenue expected after concession.
 FCT Creates Special Courts To Hasten Criminal Trials
In the continued efforts to decongest prisons and hasten the cases of awaiting trial inmates, the judiciary of the fedral capital territory has dedicated a special division of it’s court to the speedy trail of criminal matters.  chief judge of the fct high court, justice Isahaq Bello inaugrated the court during a visit to the kuje prisons.
 Nigerian Receives UNHCR Refugee Award
Nigerian Zanna Mustapha who is the founder of the future prowess school in maiduguri, borno state has received the NANSEN refugee award 2017 by the united nations high commissioner for refugees. presenting the award in Geneva Switzerland, the united nations high commissioner for refugee filippo grandi commended the uncommon humanitarian posture of Zanna Mustapha for catering to welfare of victims of Boko Haram in the north east especially women and children.
 World Bank Support Crop Value Chain
The world bank through fadama three additional financing has pledged continued support to the national food production initiative of the federal government for local consumption and export Musa Baba Aliyu reports that the world bank initiative is to further enhance the capacity of farmers across all the 36 states in areas of cultivation and also link them to off takers.
 NTA Partners Nicon Luxury
The management of Nicon luxury hotels Abuja is inching towards a mutually beneficial partnership with the Nigerian television authority NTA. This came to the fore when the executive director of the hotel samson davies came on business mission to the management of NTA
 Trial Of Boko Haram Splinter Group Stalled
A federal high court sitting in Abuja has disqualified itself from hearing the case between the federal government and the leader of the Boko Haram, splinter group Muhammed Usman and seven other standing trials for alleged act of terrorism. The trial judge justice John Tosho in a ruling on an oral application by the counsel to the defendants accusing the court of bias ordered the cases file to be transferred to the chief judge of the court for re-assignment.
 Custom Boss Tasks Officers On Curbing Smuggling
Comptroller general of Nigeria Customs Service, Hammed Ali has given a three month ultimatum to the officers and man of the service to curb smuggling especially that of rice. the customs boss gave the charge in abuja at the decoration of deputy and assistant comptrollers general who had been on acting capacity.

Finance And Budget Ministers At Nass
The federal government has asked ministries, departments and agencies to roll over between 50 and 60 per cent of their capital projects to the 2018 fiscal year. this was part of the deliverables made public by the minister of finance kemi adeosun and her counterpart in the budget and planning ministry Udoma Udo Udoma when they appeared befor the senate joint committee on finance and appropriation.
http://www.nta.ng/news/20171005-nta-news-summary-fg-assured-nigerians-of-more-affordable-rice-price/
 Rice exports just keep on growing
October 6, 2017
Sum Manet / Khmer Times 

Cambodia’s milled rice exports have increased compared with the same period last year, with China still the biggest importer of Cambodian grain.
Nearly 70 countries have been importing Cambodian rice, while China is the largest buyer with more than 120,000 tonnes of rice, followed by France with over 50,000 tonnes and Poland with 35,000 tonnes, according to the latest report from the secretariat of the One Window Service for Rice Export Formality.
The report indicates that from January to September 2017, Cambodia exported 421,966 tonnes of milled rice, an increase of 16.70 percent compared with the 361,505 tonnes exported in the same period last year, according to the report.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Laos in September last year, agreed to double China’s annual purchase of 100,000 tonnes of Cambodian rice to 200,000 tons, starting from next year.
Cambodia set to meet the quota of exporting 200,000 tonnes of milled rice to China by the end of this year, while the Chinese government plans to import 300,000 tonnes of rice from Cambodia next year.
Hean Vanhan, the director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ General Directorate of Agriculture, said the trend of rising exports is expected to continue as Cambodia seeks to expand its reach.
“We have a target of one million tonnes to export, so we have to seek and open more markets,” he said. “We cannot depend on only China’s market alone.”
Based on current growth, Cambodia will reach 600,000 tonnes of exported milled rice for 2017, Mr Vanhan said, noting China will be the top buyer.
Hun Lak, the vice-president of the Cambodian Rice Federation, said the figure of 200,000 tonnes to China will be reached.
“It may even be over the set quota, because from July on is the rainy season and rice harvests and prices will increase, which will benefit farmers and rice millers,” he said.
In 2016, Cambodia exported about 542,144 tonnes of rice to international markets, while the government plans to boost rice exports to one million tonnes per year.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5084889/rice-exports-just-keep-growing

Nigerians To Buy 50kg Bag Of Rice N6, 000 Soon- RIFAN


Description: https://cdn.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/lake-rice1.jpg

RICE Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN, have guaranteed that Nigerians will buy 50 kilogrammes bag of rice at N6, 000 in the coming months.Aminu Goronyo, the National President of RIFAN disclosed this while answering questions from newsmen after a meeting held with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and the National Rice Millers Association of Nigeria, NRMAN, on Wednesday.
Goronyo stated that despite RIFAN and RIPAN had agreed to fix the current price of 50 kg. bag of rice at between N13,000 and N13,500, the price would be further slashed to N6,000 within the next few months as long as there were bumper harvests and low cost of production.“This is just the beginning. The actual price will still come down because we are expecting a bumper harvest this year; we have sat down with the millers and agreed that we will work together for the interest of Nigerians.
“At one time, people were buying a bag of rice at the cost of N18,000 but they are now buying it at between N13,000 and N15,000. The price is coming down. “In the next few months, God willing, the price of a 50kg. bag of rice will come down to N6,000. It is achievable, it will be a reality,’’ he said.
The National Chairman of NRMAN, Abubakar Mohammed, said that the associations had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to slash the prices of both paddy and processed rice, he also stated that with the agreement reached, their decision became imperative necessary due to high rice in price of local rice, which consumers were no more comfortable with, and now farmers and millers also have become daunting.
“We have agreed with the farmers on a N13,500 and N13, 000 per bag depending on where you are in the country, we are not making requests, but we have come here to inform the Minister that our agreement with the farmers on the price of paddy,
“And this is what we have with the farmers’ association and let the minister know that we agreed on a price of paddy for this year 2017 and 2019 wet season farming. N110, 000 at the farm per tonne, which N13, 000 to N13, 500 will be for a bag.
“Before we were buying paddy up to N150, 000 per tonne of paddy, and we were selling our paddy for N16, 000 per bag of 50 kilogrammes.
“We want to sell a bag of rice N13, 000 to N13, 500 per bag according to where you are in the country and the paddy cost will be N110, 000 per bag. We have the MoU on that and we start it will be fine for everybody. The government and farmers work with us the processors.” He said.
However, he made it known that the major challenge in the rice value chain has been the high cost of production and expressed concern over persistent smuggling activities threatening farmers’ commitment to scaling up production., which he expressed optimism that the government would soon handle.
“Our major challenge is the cost of production and the Minister has promised to bring down the cost of production to the barest minimum.”

Customs seizes smuggled rice worth $64,000 in Port Harcourt


Description: Image result for Customs seizes smuggled rice worth $64,000 in Port HarcourtThe Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted N23m worth of illegally imported rice brought into the countrythrough the Port Harcourt Port.This was contained in this year’s third quarter report presented by the Port Harcourt Area 2 command of the service.TVC News Uche Okoro reports that despite recent developments, the Nigerian Customs Service says it is winning the war against smugglers and illegal importations.According to the Comptroller of Port Harcourt area 2 command, Abubakar Bashir, the service has saved the country more than N400m from seizures made between January and September 2017. He said illegally imported rice accounts for a large chunk of that figure.In line with achieving the target of tightening port security the comptroller said a lot more can be achieved with the provision of functional scanners.In addition, the Port Harcourt area 2 command of the Nigerian customs service says it has so far achieved 67 percent of its annual financial target.The comptroller is optimistic that by the end of the year, the command under his leadership would have surpassed its N112.5bn mark.
http://tvcnews.tv/2017/10/customs-seizes-smuggled-rice-worth-64000-in-port-harcourt/October 6, 2017

Rice exports just keep on growing

Sum Manet / Khmer Times Share:    
Cambodia’s milled rice exports have increased compared with the same period last year, with China still the biggest importer of Cambodian grain.
Nearly 70 countries have been importing Cambodian rice, while China is the largest buyer with more than 120,000 tonnes of rice, followed by France with over 50,000 tonnes and Poland with 35,000 tonnes, according to the latest report from the secretariat of the One Window Service for Rice Export Formality.
The report indicates that from January to September 2017, Cambodia exported 421,966 tonnes of milled rice, an increase of 16.70 percent compared with the 361,505 tonnes exported in the same period last year, according to the report.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in his meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Laos in September last year, agreed to double China’s annual purchase of 100,000 tonnes of Cambodian rice to 200,000 tons, starting from next year.
Cambodia set to meet the quota of exporting 200,000 tonnes of milled rice to China by the end of this year, while the Chinese government plans to import 300,000 tonnes of rice from Cambodia next year.
Hean Vanhan, the director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ General Directorate of Agriculture, said the trend of rising exports is expected to continue as Cambodia seeks to expand its reach.
“We have a target of one million tonnes to export, so we have to seek and open more markets,” he said. “We cannot depend on only China’s market alone.”
Based on current growth, Cambodia will reach 600,000 tonnes of exported milled rice for 2017, Mr Vanhan said, noting China will be the top buyer.
Hun Lak, the vice-president of the Cambodian Rice Federation, said the figure of 200,000 tonnes to China will be reached.
“It may even be over the set quota, because from July on is the rainy season and rice harvests and prices will increase, which will benefit farmers and rice millers,” he said.
In 2016, Cambodia exported about 542,144 tonnes of rice to international markets, while the government plans to boost rice exports to one million tonnes per year.
Myanmar diesel imports rise rice exports improve
06 OCT 2017
Description: A rice export warehouse in Yangon. Demand for Myanmar-produced rice from overseas is rising. Photo: The Myanmar Times
A rice export warehouse in Yangon. Demand for Myanmar-produced rice from overseas is rising. Photo: The Myanmar Times
Myanmar’s trade deficit has widened on the back of fluctuations in commodity prices, illegal trade and a weaker currency.
In 2016-17, the trade deficit amounted to over US$5.5 billion, up from US$5.4 billion in 2015-16 and US$4.9 billion in 2014-15, according to the statistics released by the Central Statistical Organisation.
Among the country’s imports is diesel. Between September 17 and September 23, Myanmar imported over 64,000 tonnes of diesel worth US$32 million by sea, representing an increase of over 278,800 tonnes compared to the week before, according to government media reports.
About a third of the diesel entered the country through Myeik, near the Myanmar-Thailand land border trade camp.
Diesel consumption in Myanmar during the 2015-16 fiscal year had risen to 809 million gallons, up from 600 million gallons in the previous year and doubling from just four years ago, data from the Ministry of Electricity and Energy revealed.
However, demand for rice and broken rice produced in Myanmar is also rising. During the same week in September, the country exported 26,825 tonnes of white and parboiled rice worth US$8.1 million, an increase of 5,579 tonnes compared to the previous week, government media reports said.
The country also exported 34,835 tonnes of broken rice valued at US$8.5 million. That’s up by 27,145 tonnes compared to the previous week. Broken rice is fractured grains of rice usually sold for a cheaper price compared to white or parboiled rice.
Myanmar exports rice mainly to Bangladesh via the Sittwe border trade camp and to China via the Muse, Lwejel and Chinshwehaw border points.
It also exports rice to Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Senegal, Japan, South Africa, Russia and Afghanistan via sea.

Farm Policy Critics Gather  
WASHINGTON, DC -- Groups from both sides of the political aisle met yesterday to discuss how they can collectively attack the next Farm Bill when it is introduced.  Representatives from the Heritage Foundation, the Club for Growth, and the American Enterprise Institute held a meeting with groups they frequently are at odds with, including the Environmental Working Group and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, to strategize on farm policy.  It is important to note that farmer groups, nor the public were invited to the meeting (see story below).

The primary issue the disparate groups were able to rally behind was crop insurance, specifically the AFFIRM Act.  This legislation, introduced by Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), cuts the funding for crop insurance and requires farmers to disclose the amount of premium subsidies they receive.  Based on a report from Agri-Pulse, the groups were unable to find common ground on a proposal to split the farm bill. 

"It is unfortunate the U.S. farmers were not invited to this meeting to weigh in on the issues most important to them," said Frank Leach, USA Rice manager of government affairs.  "Without the input of the agriculture industry, any recommendation from this group will undoubtedly be uninformed and misguided."

Will Anything Ever Satisfy Farm Critics?  No 

Special to the USA Rice Daily
   
WASHINGTON, DC -- For decades, agriculture's adversaries have said "no" to almost any policy that helped farmers.  When farm policy was reformed to be more free-market oriented, critics said it wasn't enough.  When the agricultural sector stood alone and volunteered funding cuts to help close America's budget deficit, critics said it wasn't enough.  When farmers began contributing to their own safety net through crop insurance to offset risk to taxpayers, critics said it wasn't enough. And now that the 2014 Farm Bill has come in tens of billions under budget, critics still say it isn't enough.
 
"No" appears to be the only message the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Heritage Foundation, U.S. PIRG, Club for Growth, and other perennial farm policy opponents are capable of delivering.  And they held a "national summit" here yesterday to discuss new ways to say no.
Could farmers or the public attend this summit?  
 
No.  But, if it were an open meeting, some tough questions would likely follow.  For example:
 
Does EWG, Heritage, and others think it's awkward to advocate the elimination of tools like crop insurance that farmers will need to rebuild following the hurricanes?  
 
No.  The crowd heard opening remarks from a Senator who introduced legislation to effectively dismantle crop insurance just after Hurricane Harvey decimated the Gulf Coast and Irma was bearing down on Florida.Will Heritage rethink its "Blueprint for Agricultural Policy" now that a former USDA official called out the group for cherry-picking USDA data and including non-farm income to distort agriculture's financial picture?  
 
No.  In fact, Heritage just doubled down on its analysis and accused the former USDA official of opposing "freedom in agriculture," whatever that means.  Will groups like the American Enterprise Institute stop paying professors with conflicts of interest to prepare its advocacy materials...especially after Politico exposed AEI's "American Boondoggle" series, which was released during the last Farm Bill?  
 
No.  These papers are a big source of fundraising, and the American Enterprise Institute is planning to release a follow-up series later this month.  Do free-trade advocates like Club for Growth recognize the hypocrisy of lobbying to dismantle U.S. farm policy while saying nothing of increased ag subsidies and trade roadblocks in other countries?  
 
No.  Not even after a top trade attorney in Washington took critics to task for ignoring foreign subsidies and weakening America's ability to advance free trade in agriculture on a global scale.  As the attorney noted, unilateral disarmament is not a sound farm policy; it's a recipe for foreign dependence.  
 
Do conservative members of the anti-farm crowd mind working with EWG, which recently proposed a slew of costly environmental regulations for rural America?  Conversely, do liberal members like U.S. PIRG mind that their conservative counterparts support cutting Farm Bill projects that promote conservation, education, and nutrition?  
 
No.   Apparently, idealism can be malleable, which explains yesterday's meeting.  With that, here's one final question to consider: 
 
Does anyone actually agree with the "no" crowd that America is better off without strong policies that defend our country's food security?  
 
No.  Thankfully, most Americans are far more sensible.  According to a 2016 poll, eight in 10 Americans believe agriculture is critical to the country's security, and 92 percent said it was important to provide farmers with federal funding.  Yes, that makes a lot more sense.

Global rice conference promotes low-carbon climate-smart rice

05.10.2017
 Description: http://www.blackseagrain.net/foto/grain-cereals/rice.png/image_large
Low carbon rice and sustained incomes for rice farmers in developing countries were at the core of discussions at the first Global Sustainable Rice Conference and Exhibition, which opened Oct. 4 in Bangkok. The two-day meeting gathered around 300 global rice stakeholders from 30 countries to discuss challenges facing the global rice sector, and to propose innovative collaborative approaches to enhance sustainability in the sector.


The discussions are set to lead to recommendations for collaborative action and investment by governments, the private sector and the development community. Innovative partnerships are needed to transform the global rice sector toward a low-carbon, sustainable future, and contribute to the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.


Speaking at the opening of the First Global Sustainable Rice Conference and Exhibition held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, Dechen Tsering, regional director and regional representative for Asia and Pacific, UN Environment, called for urgent collective action among public and private sectors as well as research organizations and civil society groups.


“Rice is critical to global food security and to the welfare of around 800 million impoverished people around the world,” Tsering said. “However, we pay a high environmental price for our rice, and we need a transformation in the global rice sector if we are to meet future global demand and enhance farmer livelihoods in a sustainable way. As a multi-stakeholder initiative with 80 institutional members, the Sustainable Rice Platform, co-convened by UN Environment and the International Rice Research Institute, offers partners the opportunity to participate in this transformative process and make a real contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

In another keynote address, Kundhavi Kadiresan, assistant director-general and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, reminded delegates that, “Asia fills the world’s rice bowls and will continue to do so in the years to come. But such a major crop needs constant attention

– by input suppliers, farmers, traders and the authorities whose policies govern its production. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations seeks to work with partners who strive to ensure the sustainability of rice production in ways that allow farmers to earn more income but that do not result in damage to ecosystems and the rice-based landscapes of the region.”


Rice climate conference


Meeting the world’s future food and nutritional needs in a sustainable way presents critical development challenges, underscoring the urgent need for action to enhance production while minimizing the environmental footprint of rice systems and their vulnerability to climate change. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), rice is a thirsty crop, accounting for 30% to 40% of the world’s irrigation water; 3,000 to 5,000 liters of water are needed to produce 1 kilogram of polished rice. Rice also accounts for approximately 13% of global nitrogen fertilizer use.


Aside from its extreme vulnerability to climate change impacts, rice production is itself a major contributor to climate change. According to the International Panel on Climate Change, rice fields contribute approximately 9% to 11% of the world’s non-CO2 agricultural emissions.These concerns underscore the need for action to enhance resource efficiency and reduce the environmental and carbon footprint of rice systems. Ensuring economic, environmental and social sustainability on the farm and throughout rice value chains presents critical development challenges.


Summarizing these challenges in his opening address to the conference, Matthew Morell, director general of the IRRI, reminded delegates of the efforts of the international research community to develop innovative climate-smart best practice packages for rice smallholders.“The International Rice Research Institute and its national partners and collaborating institutions have developed proven technologies and approaches to help smallholders in developing countries produce rice more efficiently, more reliably, using less water and farm chemicals, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment,” Morell said. “We are proud to work as co-founders of the Sustainable Rice Platform to promote adoption of these climate-smart best practice packages by Asia’s farmers.”


The Sustainable Rice Platform is a multi-stakeholder partnership to promote resource efficiency and sustainability, both on-farm and throughout rice value chains. The alliance works with over 80 institutional partners in the public and private sectors as well as international organizations, NGOs and the international research community to promote climate-smart best practice among rice smallholders in developing countries. In 2015 the world’s first Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation was launched, together with a set of Performance Indicators to enable monitoring of progress and impact. The launch triggered commitments by a number of private sector actors to achieve 100% sustainable sourcing within their global corporate supply chains by 2020. Revision of the standard recently began with a 60-day online public consultation.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/global-rice-conference-promotes-low-carbon-climate-smart-rice

Rice turns pricey in city on Bangla scarcity bogey

Prithvijit Mitra| TNN | Oct 5, 2017, 02:39 IST
Description: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-60947541,width-400,resizemode-4/60947541.jpg
KOLKATA: A dip in production of rice in Opar Bangla has prompted middlemen to play mis-chief in Epar Bangla, pushing up the retail price of the staple diet that unites both Bengals.The retail price of different varieties of rice has risen by up to 20% in Kolkata markets, prompting the Bengalgovernment to blame "the artificial crisis" on "a section middlemen and speculators" and threaten action against them.

Trade insiders say the price rise has been sparked by reports of a shortfall in production of rice in Bangladesh, where the annual consumption of rice is around 3.1 crore tonnes. Bangladesh, therefore, has been forced to reduce import duty on rice from 28% to 2% in phases to tide over the crisis, which has been blamed largely on erratic rainfall.This, claim retail market operators in Kolkata, has fuelled export of rice from India — largely Bengal — which has, in turn, created a shortfall in the Bengal market.

But the Bengal government has denied this demand-and-supply rationale behind the price rise and squarely blamed the middlemen and speculators. "There is no deficit in our foodgrain stocks. A section of middlemen and speculators has jacked up retail prices by spreading all these rumours. We are keeping a close watch and will take strong action against such dishonest traders," Bengal agricultural marketing minister Tapan Dasgupta told TOI.
Government statistics, wholesalers and rice mill owners support Dasgupta's contention. Bengal has produced 15.9 million tonnes of rice in 2016-17 and the domestic dem-and is 14.9 million tonnes, making for enough buffer to absorb any sudden spurt in export. "A spike in exports alone cannot be blamed for this. A section of traders is using this as a ploy to increase retail prices," Arijit Saha, owner of a rice mill in Hooghly, said. "Exports alone cannot create such a shortfall that will lead to a spike in the internal retail market," a Sealdah wholesale market insider said, adding: "Some middlemen have spread these rumours and spiked the price."
Whatever the reason, several Kolkata households have already made small adjustments to their taste to keep the monthly expense bill same. Thakurpukur businessman Arghya Saha's family used to buy the Mini Kit variety till a week ago, when it used to cost Rs 32 a kg. But, with the price of this variety going up to Rs 38, they have started buying the Ratna variety, which now sells at Rs 34 a kg. "This, too, has gone up. the regular price was Rs 28," Saha said. Other popular household varities have become more pricey as well; they include Swarna Madhu and Chhatrish Chaal.
But it is not only the varities cooked at home that have become costlier. The Basmati sold loose, which is a key ingredient of Bengal's favourite biryani, is now pricier by Rs 5-7 a kg. "Branded Basmati varieties, like Nafis, Wagha, Kohinoor and Adaab, have also become more expensive but that is because of GST. Branded Basmati, anyway, is used by only big restaurants," New Market retailer Naresh Bhai said.

But this spike will not have an immediate impact on restaurant food prices. "Restaurants will absorb the hike now," Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) president Sudesh Poddar said. "We will wait for at least six months before going for a price revision though neighbourhood biryani joints may be forced to hike prices," he added.

Can Tho to ship first rice batch to Iran

Thursday, 10/05/2017, 12:01
The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has signed an agreement with Iran to ship 100,000 tonnes of rice to the country, said Huynh Trung Tru, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade on October 4.
Description: can tho to ship first rice batch to iran hinh 0
According to Tru, rice import demand has surged in Bangladesh, the Philippines and Iran.Bangladesh needs to import about 500,000 tonnes of rice, with more than half of the volume in October alone, Tru said, adding that local firms have registered with the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) to join bidding.
The city hopes to sign a longer contract with Iran next year, Tru said.In the first nine months this year, the city shipped more than 638,000 tonnes of rice abroad, worth US$262 million, up 22% in volume and nearly 20% in value year on year.According to the VFA, a total of nearly 5.16 million tonnes of rice was signed to be shipped abroad up to the end of August.
The city earned more than US$1 billion in export revenue, accounting for 75.8% of the yearly target, up 16.9% year on year.The city also imported US$321 million worth of goods, accounting for 84.5% of the yearly target, up 47.6% from the same period last year, driven by increased purchases of equipment and machines for production.
http://english.vov.vn/economy/can-tho-to-ship-first-rice-batch-to-iran-359783.vov

Cambodia's rice exports up 17 percent in nine months

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-05 17:20:19|Editor: Mengjie

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 421,966 tons of milled rice in the first nine months of 2017, a 17 percent rise compared with the same period last year, according to the latest report on Thursday.China is the top buyer of Cambodian rice, followed by France and Poland, said the report released by the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export, adding that 60 countries and regions had purchased Cambodian rice.
Export to China accounted for 124,760 tons, or 29.5 percent of the total exports, during the January-September period this year, the report said.Cambodia is expected to export 200,000 tons and 300,000 tons to China in 2017 and 2018, respectively.The Southeast Asian country produces over 9 million tons of paddy rice a year. With this amount, it has over 3 million tons of milled rice for annual export.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-10/05/c_136660352.htm

Zim evaluates rice production

05.10.2017
 Description: http://www.blackseagrain.net/foto/grain-cereals/ricebrown.png/image_large
ZIMBABWE is evaluating the feasibility of commercial rice production with a Government delegation expected to go on a familiarisation mission to Egypt to acquaint itself with technology and viable methods of growing the cereal.


Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Cropping Production) Davis Marapira said he would next month lead a team of experts from his ministry to familiarise with rice production in one of Africa’s largest producer. Zimbabwe is a net importer of rice and spends about $150 million annually to import the cereal.“We have done our preliminary research, which have shown us that we can produce rice using hybrid varieties without any problem. I will lead a team from the ministry to Egypt to familiarise with their technology and understand how we can do it here.New rice varieties needs a lot of water in the first two months and we have sufficient water (to support rice production,” deputy minister Marapira said.

With hybrid varieties, Egyptian farmers have improved average rice production to almost 10 tonnes per hectare. Rice has become a priority crop in Africa with many countries looking at expanding production of the crop to achieve food self-sufficiency. At the fifth Presidential Youth Interface Rally in Chinhoyi about two months ago, President Mugabe indicated the country should seriously consider rice production.

FG: Price of Rice will Fall Within One Month

Description: https://i0.wp.com/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/leadersandco/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/24044237/Rice-Bags.jpg?zoom=1.25&resize=640%2C296&ssl=1



•           Approves N25bn to offset debt it owes Discos
 Omololu Ogunmade  and  Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
All things being equal, the price of rice in Nigeria will drastically fall within the next one month, the federal government assured wednesday.
This disclosure was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ogbeh said the government had been concerned about the high cost of rice which he described as the most consumed commodity in Nigeria. The trend, he added, resulted in the recent meetings of both the rice growers and millers during which he said both parties resolved to crash the price of rice in the next four weeks.
According to him, both the rice growers and millers had agreed that the price of paddy – raw  and unprocessed rice in the farm – would be reduced to a cost that will be easily affordable by rice millers who will in turn sell the milled rice at a competitive price that will be within the reach of average consumers.
He said given this development, the price of locally consumed rice would become as low as that of imported or smuggled rice. This development is expected to make rice import or smuggling henceforth unattractive.
Ogbeh also said the council mandated the ministry to investigate the recent export of poor quality of yam to the United States by a company with a view to discovering why such products of low quality were exported from the country.
Ogbeh also said a bill meant to repeal Export Prohibition Act which prohibits the export of some locally produced items such as yam, rice, among others, to enable the country export such products and grow the economy is already before the National Assembly.
“We have been mandated by council to brief you on one or two developments in the agriculture sector. One is a new development about the consignment of yam which was exported from Nigeria to the US which, according to a report that we heard today, was found to be of poor quality.
“The ministry will investigate it because the ministry is not an exporter. Exporters are private sector people. We will investigate both the company that exported and ask the quarantine department to check and find out why such a consignment left here.
“The second issue is that in the last two days, rice growers in Nigeria and rice millers have been meeting. We are very concerned about the price of rice which is the most consumed commodity in Nigeria today.
“This means in the next one month, since the harvest of rice has begun in earnest, the price of rice will become reasonable and the cost of rice would have reduced substantially. We shall continue to pursue that. The ministry is also equipping farmers to make rice harvest easier so that the cost of rice harvest will substantially reduce,” he said.
In his own briefing, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved N25.9 billion to offset the debt owed by the federal government to electricity distribution companies (Discos).
According to him, the approval followed the verification of the claims of over N67 billion debt made by the Discos against the federal government.
He said the balance of N41 billion was not owed by the federal government but rather by some states and local governments as well as some international organisations classified as the federal government institutions.
Fashola said the decision of the government to offset the debt was government’s own way of fulfilling its own commitment to the private sector with the aim of promoting the growth of the private sector.
He also said the move was part of power sector recovery programme, pointing out that further verification of debts owed by states and local governments had been approved by the National Council on Power.
The minister also disclosed that the Discos also owe the federal government over N500 billion, being the cost of energy which he said they took and have not remitted.
He said: “We presented a memorandum to council to approve the verified sums of monies owed by the ministries, departments and agencies of government to distribution companies for electricity supplied to them. You might recall that over time, since the inception of this administration, the claims of debts owed by this administration to distribution companies have been a matter of concern.
“We had committed that those figures would be verified and the verified sums, the government would pay. We have completed the verification and as was announced in the monthly power meeting, we now asked council to approve the verified sum of N25.994 billion owed by MDAs of the federal government to be paid to the Discos out of the claims of N67.41 by the Discos. There is differential of about N41 billion. That differential arose because some of the claims do not belong to the federal government. The debts are owed by some states and local governments. Some are owed by public international organisations that have been classified as government institutions.
In a related development,  the federal government, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and  National Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (NRMAN) have moved to guarantee national food security by reducing the price of rice before the end of the year.
The resolution was the highpoint of yesterday’s tripartite understanding agreed to by Ogbeh, Chairman of NRMAN, Mohammed Abubakar and Chairman of RIFAN, Aminu Goronyo.
The parties agreed to review and reduce the market price of processed Paddy rice which ranges from N16,000 to N17,000 to about N13,000for the 2017/2018 wet season farming.
Government rice policy has seen a major reduction in rice importation from 500,000 metric ton in 2015 to 58,000 mt in 2016.
Ogbeh highlighted government’s desire to continue to procure machines and support rice farmers so that they can maintain the MoU between the farmers and millers to sell paddy at N110,000 per metric tonnes. Presently a ton of paddy is sold at N150,000.
The minister appealed to RIFAN to desist from unnecessary hiking of the price of paddy, saying such would give smugglers the leeway in market, while ordinary Nigerians will be unable to afford the price of the local food staple.
 He stated further that with efforts being put in place, the price of rice will be reasonable and can be afforded by all Nigerians.
“I want to make a passionate appeal to RIFAN. Millers will be unable to buy if the farmers hike the prices of the product. And if the millers can’t buy, a day will come when the mills will shut down. If that happens, people won’t find rice in the market and smugglers will take advantage of the scarcity. Any breach of the agreement reached will benefit the smuggler while the Nigerian consumers will suffer most,” Ogbeh admonished.
Speaking after the meeting, Goronyo said RIFAN predicted that cheaper rice would flood the market this year in view of the anticipated bumper harvest by farmers.
He said the rice farmer association and the millers had agreed in principle to collaborate in the interest of Nigerians.
He gave the cost of production and high interest rate as the main reasons responsible for the high cost of rice in the market, saying Ogbeh had promised to bring the cost of production to the barest minimum.
“Though Nigerians were once buying a 50kg bag of rice for N18,000, today the cost of a 50kg bag of rice is N14,000 to N15,000 which supports the fact that the prices are coming down and will go further down to not even N7,000 but N6,000 for a 50kg. Just give us few months,” Goronyo pleaded.
He said the government rice production scheme will benefit the smallholder farmers estimated at 12.2 million or 90 per cent of the registered rice farmers in Nigeriahttps://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/10/05/fg-price-of-rice-will-fall-within-one-month/
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 5, 2017
Reuters Staff


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-October 5

Nagpur, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Gram prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce andMarketing Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers amid high moisturecontent arrival. Downward trend on NCDEX and good arrival in Madhya Pradesh mandi and release ofstock from stockists also pushed down prices.  About 500 of gram bags were available for auctions, according to sources.

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    
   GRAM
   * Desi gram raw declined in open market here in absence of buyers amid good supply
     from producing region.
  
   TUAR
     
   * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders
     amid ample stock in ready position.

   * Moong varieties quoted weak in open market on poor buying support from local
     Traders.
                                                 
   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,175, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,800-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
    – 7,500-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-7,000, Gram – 5,500-5,625, Gram Super best
    – 7,800-8,300

   * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
     scattered deals and settled at last levels in limited deals.
      
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
   
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close  
     Gram Auction                  4,350-5,010         4,450-5,170
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                3,500-3,970
     Moong Auction                n.a.                3,900-4,200
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Wheat Mill quality Auction        1,590-1,678        1,590-1,675
     Gram Super Best Bold            8,000-8,500        8,000-8,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            7,200-7,600        7,200-7,600
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            5,700-5,800        5,700-5,800
     Desi gram Raw                5,450-5,750         5,500-5,800
     Gram Kabuli                12,500-13,200        12,500-13,200
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,100-6,400        6,100-6,400
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,700-6,000        5,700-6,000
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400
     Tuar Gavarani New             3,850-3,950        3,850-3,950
     Tuar Karnataka             4,250-4,550        4,250-4,550
     Masoor dal best            5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400
     Masoor dal medium            4,800-5,000        4,800-5,000
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        6,700-7,400         6,800-7,500
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,100-6,500        6,200-6,600
     Moong dal Chilka            5,400-6,100        5,500-6,200
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            7,000-7,400        7,000-7,500
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,900-8,500       7,900-8,500
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,800-6,700        5,800-6,700   
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,200-6,300        5,200-6,300    
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,000-5,500        5,000-5,500
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,750-2,950         2,750-2,950
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            2,900-3,000        2,900-3,000
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,800-4,400        3,800-4,400  
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,700-1,850        1,700-1,850  
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,100-2,300           2,100-2,300        
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400   
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600   
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,700        2,200-2,700          
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,400        3,000-3,400   
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,700-2,900        2,700-2,900   
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400     
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600  
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,300-2,400        2,300-2,400  
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,650-4,050        3,650-4,050    
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,300-3,600        3,300-3,600   
     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800
     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400  
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,500-13,500        9,500-13,500    
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-7,500        5,000-7,500   
     Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,900        4,500-4,900   
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400  
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,100        2,000-2,100   
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-2,000        1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) 
Maximum temp. 35.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 21.7 degree Celsius
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 22
degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-october-5-2017-idINL4N1MG1E0

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 6, 2017
Reuters Staff


Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-October 6

Nagpur, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Gram prices recovered in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from local millers. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upwardtrend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and reported demand from South-based millers also jacked upprices. 
About 450 of gram bags and 600 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources.

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES
    
   GRAM
   * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
  
   TUAR
     
   * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka reported higher in open market on renewed festival
     season demand from local traders.

   * Lakhodi dal showed upward tendency in open market on good demand from local
     traders.
                                                 
   * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,175, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,800-6,200, Udid Mogar (clean)
    – 7,500-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-7,000, Gram – 5,500-5,625, Gram Super best
    – 7,800-8,300

   * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
     scattered deals and settled at last levels in limited deals.
      
 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
   
     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close  
     Gram Auction                  4,475-5,100         4,400-5,000
     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600
     Tuar Auction                n.a.                3,500-3,920
     Moong Auction                n.a.                3,900-4,200
     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500
     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800
     Wheat Mill quality Auction        1,590-1,678        1,590-1,675
     Gram Super Best Bold            8,000-8,500        8,000-8,500
     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.
     Gram Medium Best            7,200-7,600        7,200-7,600
     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a
     Gram Mill Quality            5,700-5,800        5,700-5,800
     Desi gram Raw                5,450-5,750         5,450-5,750
     Gram Kabuli                12,500-13,200        12,500-13,200
     Tuar Fataka Best-New             6,100-6,400        6,100-6,400
     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000
     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        5,700-6,000        5,700-6,000
     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400
     Tuar Gavarani New             3,900-4,000        3,850-3,950
     Tuar Karnataka             4,300-4,600        4,250-4,550
     Masoor dal best            5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400
     Masoor dal medium            4,800-5,000        4,800-5,000
     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Mogar bold (New)        6,700-7,400         6,700-7,400
     Moong Mogar Medium            6,100-6,500        6,100-6,500
     Moong dal Chilka            5,400-6,100        5,400-6,100
     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.
     Moong Chamki best            7,000-7,400        7,000-7,500
     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,900-8,500       7,900-8,500
     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,800-6,700        5,800-6,700   
     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        5,200-6,300        5,200-6,300    
     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,000-5,500        5,000-5,500
     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          2,800-3,000         2,750-2,950
     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            2,900-3,000        2,900-3,000
     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,800-4,400        3,800-4,400  
     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,000        1,900-2,000
     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,700-1,850        1,700-1,850  
     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         2,100-2,300           2,100-2,300        
     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400   
     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100
     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.
     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600   
     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,700        2,200-2,700          
     Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,400        3,000-3,400   
     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,700-2,900        2,700-2,900   
     Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)         2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400     
     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600  
     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      2,300-2,400        2,300-2,400  
     Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)        3,650-4,050        3,650-4,050    
     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,300-3,600        3,300-3,600   
     Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)      4,600-4,800        4,600-4,800
     Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400  
     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,500-13,500        9,500-13,500    
     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    5,000-7,500        5,000-7,500   
     Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)    4,500-4,900        4,500-4,900   
     Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400  
     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,100        2,000-2,100   
     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-2,000        1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) 
Maximum temp. 33.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.4 degree Celsius
Rainfall : 0.6 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around and 34 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-october-6-2017-idINL4N1MH1NH

Basmati paddy price firms up on lower harvest, steady demand

, ET Bureau|
Oct 04, 2017, 07.15 PM IST
Description: Unshelled basmati is trading between Rs 26 and 45 per kilogram in Punjab during the ongoing harvesting season.Unshelled basmati is trading between Rs 26 and 45 per kilogram in Punjab during the ongoing harvesting season.CHANDIGARH: The price of basmati paddy — the premier long grain rice in its unshelled form — has increased 30-45% from last year as farmers harvest a lower output in India, the largest producer and exporter, even as demand remains steady globally. Traders expect the price to remain firm through this season. Unshelled basmati is trading between Rs 26 and 45 per kilogram in Punjab during the ongoing harvesting season. Farmers are receiving higher value this time for 1509 basmati variety as well compared to the last year when it sold around Minimum Support price.


India exports the rice to more than 130 countries. Its price has firmed up after remaining subdued for two seasons. Low prices had led farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to sow less basmati this year. “A drop of around 7% in area under basmati in India will buttress prices while the international demand is expected to remain stable at around 4 million tonnes,” Basmati Export Development Foundation director AK Gupta told ET. Demand from traditional markets Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE and the US is expected to remain normal, he said.
“Steps taken by the Indian government, including restrictions on allowing exports through Documents against Acceptance (a credit arrangement), have also helped push up basmati export prices,” said Vijay Sethia, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association.
Restrictions on Documents against Acceptance has reduced defaults by overseas companies, but the Indian government still needs to blacklist some of the firms that have blocked payments causing heavy financial losses to Indian exporters, he said. According to Sethia, implementation of GST will help boost exports as it has put an end to wide disparity in state levies that were hurtling exporters.


“The prices are expected to remain firm throughout the harvesting season as carryover stocks are low and output is less than normal,” said Arvinder Pal Singh, director at Amar Singh Chawal Wala that owns the Lal Qila rice brand. Haryana-based Dunar Foods’ CEO, Sandeep Singla, said basmati output could reduce 8-10% this year. “The export prices are bound to rise in this scenario,” Singla added. But despite this revival in price, basmati traders in Punjab said they were hurt by higher payment towards market development fee and rural development fund (RDF).

A few weeks ago, the Punjab government increased the market fee and RDF from 2% to 3%. It is expected to favour millers and traders based in Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana where the cost is much less, traders in Punjab said. “The higher levy will ultimately affect farmers who will end up earning less remuneration,” Pal said.

To protest against the increase, rice millers in Punjab have called for a strike on October 5-6. “The government needs to cut RDF and market fee to comparative levels, else an indefinite strike will be held after October 26,” a miller said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/basmati-paddy-price-firms-up-on-lower-harvest-steady-demand/articleshow/60941399.cms

Rice farmers hope for fair weather during harvest

Long rainy season leads to late harvest


By Jake Abbott jabbott@appealdemocrat.com
Area rice farmers are rolling with the punches – they would prefer to be further along in the process and they’re hoping dry weather holds out long enough to give them enough time to harvest.The wet weather this past spring pushed planting back for rice farmers across the Sacramento Valley, which has ultimately resulted in a later harvest than usual. “It’s going OK so far, but we started later than normal – probably 10 to 12 days later than usual,” said Michael Bosworth, owner of Rue and Forsman Ranch in Rio Oso. 
Bosworth said he has about 60 percent of his crop still left to harvest. He knew he would be harvesting later this year, so he also incorporated some early maturing rice varieties in his fields to allow for a more manageable harvest. Still, it’s a race against the clock because the rain will be coming. If it comes too soon, it could prevent rice harvesters from getting into the field.
“The late harvest is concerning because of how unpredictable the fall weather is,” Bosworth said. “If we get into the situation where we got a lot of rain, things will get way worse. But considering we are already in October, I’d say we’ve been lucky so far.”
The cooler temperatures over the past several days and the winds have helped some farmers’ crops finish maturing.“We are just getting going,” said Jerry Norene, owner of Norene Ranches Inc. in Yuba County. “The north wind the last few days has matured everything, so we are pretty much ready to go.”
Norene still has about 85 percent of his crop left to harvest, but the little he has gotten out of the field was encouraging, in terms of yield. “We haven’t got the weights back on it yet, but it seemed to do better than I was expecting,” Norene said. “I expected a lot to fall off, considering the spring we had.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, approximately 458,000 acres of rice were planted across the state this year, which is down from about 536,000 in 2016.
From what he’s seen so far, Bosworth said yields for certain varieties have been down, but nothing that is too worrisome yet.“Some of the varieties have been about average or just below average (in terms of yield), but some other varieties are off by about 10-15 percent,” he said.
Tom Butler, vice president of Sutter Basin Corporation located in the Robbins area, said they typically start harvesting in mid-September, but considering “everybody got in late” this year they were about five days behind schedule.After racing to do everything possible to catchup for that missed time, he said the farm is in a good position right now, even though there is more than half of his crop still in the field. 
“Harvest is never really normal, you will always have some lodging and there will be some fields you just don’t get into in time, but you have to deal with it. It’s part of the business,” Butler said.
Summer heat now slows farmers
The location of Sutter Basin Corp. – in the Robbins area and in proximity to the Delta – helped this year’s crop, said Tom Butler, vice president of the business.
The cooler, milder temperatures there helped his crop mature quickly, as opposed to some farmers who experienced lodging (when the crop grows too quickly and becomes top-heavy, it falls over and becomes more difficult to harvest).
Description: https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/appeal-democrat.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/5/9e/59ee92ae-a998-11e7-8964-cfe77ae44032/59d5d452ad469.image.jpg?resize=300%2C225Butler experienced some lodging this year and has seen worse. But he said it definitely posed a problem for many farmers this year. One of the theories circulating the industry is that long periods of high heat – consecutive days over 100 degrees – was a primary factor in the issue this year.
“Some of the people I’ve talked to, who have been farming a long time, have never seen lodging as widespread as it has been,” said Michael Bosworth, owner of Rue and Forsman Ranch in Rio Oso. “There is not a quality issue, so you can still harvest it. It just means your harvesting combine has to go a lot slower, or about half the usual speed.” 
In other words, lodging is significantly slowing down the harvesting process that is already behind schedule. That leaves farmers racing to harvest their crops from sunup to sundown while weather conditions remain favorable.“Cutting in October makes you nervous, but cutting late into October makes you very nervous. You just have to do what you can and hope mother nature is nice to you for as long as possible,” Butler said.
– Jake Abbott
Courtesy photo A harvester loads rice into a bankout wagon at Rue and Forsman Ranch in Rio Oso Sept. 18.




http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/basmati-paddy-price-firms-up-on-lower-harvest-steady-demand/articleshow/60941399.cms

Quote of the Day
"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck."
                                                                          - Dalai Lama